Ladder



July 7; 1925. 1545348 G. F. NALDER LADDER Filed March 14, 1925 Patented Jaly'"'1925. I ,y l UNITED STATES PATENT- .oFF1cE.

' LADDER; Y

applicati@ mea Maren, 14, 1925. semi No. 15,616. i

To allan/tom may concern.'

Be it known thatfI, GEORGEv` Fnnl'innlon NALnnR, a'subject of the vKing of, Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Castlel maine,` in the. county of 'l`albot, State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvey ments inand Relating to Ladders (-for which I have led anv applicationin the Common- Wealth 'of Australia Dec. A19, 1923, Number e 15,689),A of which the `following is a specifisafe and any attempt at'repair does not ma` vThis invention'relates to'ladders such` as are used by orchardista -farmers and others for outdoor service. When exposed Ito the weather, wooden ladders deteriorate to such an extent that they are liable to become unl,tcrially prolong their utility.

One of the objects ofthe present invention is to provide a strong and durable and relatively light ladder which will not be affected by exposure to the weather and to this end the ladder is constructed of metal preferably in-'theform of tubing, the various tubular members being secured to' each other at their intersections bybr'azing, welding or other ladder becomes ar y 4tothe, feet. In order to obviate' this objec- `suitable means.

Itv is-Well reco nizedfthatstanding for any exten-dedperio upon ausingle rungof a uous and causes fatigue tion a ladder in accordance with the present invention is preferably provided with additional or secondary rungs which are located parallel to and approximately in thesame horizontal plane as the main run'gs and Ithus form wider and more `satisfactory rests for the feet.,-

Provision is. alsoI made whereby a rear supportingv strut or Vleg may bey pivotally and detachably connected to theKlladderas occasion requires. l f l Other features of the invention Vwill be evident from the following description and l 4the appended claims.

I part of this specification:-

Referring FigureIis a vperspective view of atladder 'constructed 'in accordance with the -invention.` A rearsupp'orting'leg and a .detache able extension forming a safety holding device or guard are included.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the ladder shown in Figure 1. I

' Figure 3 ispan enlarged fragmentary d,-l

.to the drawings" which form' .tail view partly section and shows the' Figure Ltis a part sectional plan View' of Vthe upper part of the ladder and showing the pivotal connections of the rearsuppo-rtin leg. y

`igure 5 is a perspective View of a detachable extension which may-be applied to the ladder when desired to increase its height.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the imf proved ladder showing the detachable extension seen in Figure 5 applied thereto. The rea-r sup-porting leg is indicated by broken lines. l e

According to the invention the 'upst-anding or longitudinal side members 2 and the horizontal rests or rungs 3. of the ladder are preferably composed of metal tubing although solid but light metal rods or bars may be employed in some circumstances. In

addition tojthe previously mentioned main rungs 3 secondary rungs 4, also, preferably of tubular metal and having forwardlybent end portions 6,are. provided, said rungs 4,

being located behind and parallel with the main rungs 3 in approximately the same preferably secured to the side members 2 by welding or brazing.

g For the purpose of strengthenmg the ladder metaly tie'rods 7 are suitably secured at their extremities to the upstanding side members 2 and are'bowedfrearwardlyand 'I secured bywelding or the like lat intermediate points to certain lof the secondary rungs 4 adjacent eachv e'ndof the latter as indicated at 8 in Figures 1,2 and 6 3 l The lower extremities of the side members 2 are preferably splayed-outwardly as at 11` and terminate in. flat feet 12. The

upper extremities 'of the upstanding sidev membersl maybeattened and curved rear- 'wardlyas shown at 13 and are providedwith coinciding apertures 14;(Figure 4) to accommodate a transverse pivot pm or spindle 16 which may be retained in position by a 111111,14 engaging the threaded end portion 18% thereof. When the contrivance is to be used `as a step ladder the intermediate portion of said,transverse pivot 16, isenclrcled by a sleeve 19 which 1s carried4 at the upper end.

struts or staysl 37 w of a rear supporting strut or leg 21,'also constructed of metal preferably' of tubular cross section.

The'supporting leg 21 is; provided at its' lower end with a foot 22 whichl is preferably of'- substantially inverted U shape an'd rota--v tably mounted .on theleg 21. The said lower portion of the leg 21 ma lbe reduced in diameter to provide a shou der 23 which, with` A chain 27 or its equivalent may be em ployed as shown in Figure 2 to limit the angular inclination of the side'meinbers 2 and the rear supporting leg 2l. The longitudinal side members 2l` may be provided adjacent their upper ends with longitudinally disposed tubu ar sockets or the like 28 adapted to receive the lower ends of a pair of subsidiary side members or legs of an arch shaped or like extension piece 29 which forms a detachable safety holding device. This extension piece extends above the top of the ladder and acts as a guard and a body rest tothe user when standing upon the higher rungs of the ladder. lIt may also carry a hook or Vlike connection 31 so that a person gathering fruit may suspend a basket, bucket or receptacle therefrom and thus have'free use of both hands.

y In instances where it is desirable to increase the height of the ladder anextension piece 32 as seen in Figure 5 may be em'- .ployedl This extension piece which is also preferably of tubular metal construction, includes subsidiary side members or legs 33 adapted at their lower ends 35 to engage in the aforesaid vsockets`28 on the side members 2, and`rungs 34 extending between a-ndsecured by welding or the like to said legs 33. This extension of the ladder is provided with .a pivoted stayq1 member comprisin l ich may be connect at their upper ends by a cross member 36 extending freely through holes in the upper ends of the extension piece side members or legs 33. The lower ends of the struts 37 are provided with eyelets 38. In` applying this Vof the pin 16. Theladder extension is thus firmly supported so that the operator' may stand upon the rungs 34 thereof with safety.

The invention is` not limited' in its appl-ic-ation to a step. ladder nor is it .limited to orchard or farm-work but maybe employed with advantage for neraldoinestic or industrial purposes.. hen -not required for use as -a stepladder the rear sup orting leg 21 may be removed so that the adder may rest or lean against a wall, tree or the like.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is i 1. A. metallic ladder comprising side bars and connecting steps, `both of tubular form, a tubular socket secured to each side` bar near the upper-end and extending longitudinally and on .the `front face of such side= bar and an extension section having its terminals slidably fitting in said sockets to sup port the extension in substantial alignment with the ladder, means for supporting the upper end of the extension from the upper ends of the side bars.

, 2. A metallic ladder comprising side bars, ste s connecti the side bars, the upper en sof the side bars being rearwardly curved, a ladder extension section, means carried by the side bars to removably 1receiveand support such section substantially in the plane of the side bars, and a brace extending from the upper end of the section and removably connected to the curved ends ofthe side bars.

3. A metallic ladder comprising tubular side bars having their ends rearwardly curved, steps connectingythe side bars, a spindle connecting the free terminals of the curved ends of the side bars, a. supporting leg pivotally vmounted on said spindle and a rotatable foot carried by the supporting 

